Joan Rivers had reportedly been undergoing unplanned throat biopsy

Joan Rivers' death was reportedly triggered by an unplanned throat biopsy that should not be performed outside a hospital and resulted in complications which caused her to stop breathing.

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According to the New York Daily News, the Joan & Melissa: Joan Know Best? star and The Celebrity Apprentice winner visited Yorkville Endoscopy, a New York City outpatient clinic that usually only deals with digestive issues, for a routine endoscopy on August 28.

However, the clinic's doctor noticed "something" on Rivers' vocal chords, according to a Daily News source, resulting in another doctor who was a member of Rivers' entourage asking the clinic if he could use their instruments to investigate the issue further.

"He asked and they let him," the source said, adding that Rivers' doctor had identified himself as an ear, nose and throat specialist. "A huge no-no."

Rivers' doctor then proceeded to perform an unplanned biopsy which caused the vocal cords to seize -- a medical condition called laryngospasm -- and cut off her air supply, according to the source.

"A biopsy like that should only be done in a hospital setting," the source told the Daily News about the procedure, which Rivers had allegedly not approved. "If she had been in a hospital when it happened, she might have been okay."

Rivers was reportedly under general anesthesia when the complication occurred and 911 was called from the clinic at approximately 9:39AM.

Paramedics and other first responders were on the scene by 9:46AM, according to reports, and Rivers was already on life support when she arrived at Mount Sinai Hospital, the nearest hospital, at 10:08AM.

Rivers then remained on life support until September 4 when her Melissa Rivers removed it and she passed away at age 81.